20% of our Community has been diagnosed with COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - and 20% more have the disease but don't know it! If you have smoked more than 100 sickerettes in your lifetime (and who of us hasn't?) tell, don't ask, your Doctor for a Spirometry Test that will detect and diagnose COPD early. COPD goes undiagnosed or diagnosed very late stages for most of us and that limits treatment options and quality of life!
But this Blog is about insensitive questions and once diagnosed, you will get them and often from coworkers, 'friends', even from family members! So be prepared!
You’re at a family outing, a get-together with friends or a community group, and someone says,
“You knew smoking was bad for you, why didn’t you quit a long time ago?”
A question like this can be frustrating, especially when smoking is just one potential risk factor for
COPD. The best way to deal with insensitive questions is to be prepared.
1. If you can walk away, do so. Getting
defensive will waste your energy.
2. If you can’t walk away, redirect their
comment. Say something like, “I’m sure
you don’t know how insensitive that
question is.”
3. Use relaxation techniques such as
meditation to make sure you don’t hold
onto that question throughout your day,
and possibly not be able to sleep.
4. Treat yourself well. Fill your life with
supportive people who don’t judge you.
That goes for everybody in your life - even family!!!!
Often I hear from folks who have been diagnosed with COPD and yet live with smokers. It is absolutely necessary that your loved ones who smoke 'get it' that being around second hand smoke for COPDers shaves Months - even Years - off of your life expectancy and destroys your Quality of Life! It is also necessary for you to make a decision to stay away from all smoke, even fireplaces and BBQs, no matter what extreme measure you have to take to get there!
Living an EXcellent Life is possible with COPD if and only if you manage your illness by smoking cessation, environmental hygiene, exercise, and nutrition. I can honestly say that I am healthier now than I have ever been in my entire life because COPD forced me to take all of the other elements of my health seriously - including healthy relationships!
Live Long and Prosper!
